Count all the DID's

I usually don't post a lot of just me photos, but Mister James took this the other day of me napping on the couch. I have some weird sleeping habits: my lips always pucker, my arms are either above my head or stuck out funny and I have to have a good head tilt. He caught all three! Do you ever just feel capooped at the end of a day? Of course you have! We all have days that are exhausting.

Sometimes I feel like I get nothing done in a day as I see dishes piled, to do's I didn't get to, being exhausted and wondering when I'll get caught up. But then I'll pause at the end of my long days and think, "Well actually you did get lots done today." I have high expectations of myself and what I can do and oftentimes that means I look at all I didn't do or get done. Today as I lay my head down on my pillow I had to reflect on the day as those thoughts crept in:

- you're pregnant, that's a full time "to do"

- you DID play and feed and take care of baby Jane all day (24/7 job)

- you DID made the bed

- you DID take clothes to the DI (thrift shop)

- you DID have an outing at the library with baby Jane

- you DID make 3 meals

- you DID plan and have a church meeting to prepare for a large activity coming up

- you DID go through all baby Williams clothes

- you DID mow the whole front lawn

- you DID play with Jane in the sprinkler and helped her up and down on the slide and read her lots of books

- you DID get Jane ready for naps and bedtime

- you DID help get a shelf prepped for Mister James' tools

So, yes, that looooooong to do list that haunts me as I think about having a baby in a month gets me a little anxious. But I'm doing ok, I'm getting good to-do's done and working hard each day. When you get down or have those same awful "didn't do" feelings really think about all you accomplish in a day cause usually it's quite a lot! There's much to be done in life but taking it one day at a time and enjoying the ride is so important. I learn so much about slowing down the pace and lowering my super high expectations to more reasonable ones every day. Remember to always be grateful for all the "DID's" you did do!

I have thought a lot about the story of Martha and Mary lately and how important it is to really focus on the important to do's. We can do dishes all day long but were we fed truth or goodness by doing them? It is important to clean, accomplish goals, work hard and be busy in good causes, but it is also important to delegate duties and take time to just be still and take in life. I am grateful that I can learn, by being in a family, the great DID's of life. Each day is filled with purpose and true meaning when it is lived for those you love. Make sure you count your DID's at the end of the day, cause I bet there were many! :)

Yogurt Face

Just had to post twice today....cause look at that face!! She enjoyed trying out eating yogurt on her own. The spoon lasted a minute or two and then the hands dunked in. It's so fun watching little ones grow and they sure do it fast. I think Jane is going to be an awesome big sister!!! She has so many awesome qualities and such a sweet spirit already. I'm excited for her and William to be the best of buddies! Cause I think they will be. And I'm also excited to see her help out and learn from her little brother. She has been really sweet with her baby doll lately, and everything really. She'll rock her food, potato pill bugs from outside, stuffed animals, her sippy and blankies. I love seeing those nurturing instincts in her. Life is amazing, and it is never ending! Sometimes I sit back and go "woah. My parents have parents, they have parents, they have parents and on and on, and now I'm a parent, and my children will be parents and on and on!" That is so awesome!!!! Long lines of love, that's what we're creating, one yogurt face at a time.

Jelly Sandals and the Heat

Jane just got some new Jelly Sandals for $3, I was pretty excited!!!! So...getting that cute suit on and playing in the water was a must on this hot summer day! The sandals are a hit! I love them on her and they bring back so many memories of me as a kid. I would only wear sandals! Even in the winter, even when we went hiking on a glacier...yep I was a sandal girl. My favorites were some pink salt water buckle sandals. I wore them till they died.

I really need to get better outdoor water toys....aka a swimming pool!! But a good ol' tarp and sprinkler do the trick for now. She had fun splashing in the puddles and pretending she was a dog slurping the water up. Silly girl! I love this sweet, curious, adventuresome, animal lover, funny, and adorable little gal of mine!

Don't ya love that crazy hair! I'm not a huge fan of this heat being pregnant but it sure is fun to get to play outdoors with Jane. Just wishing the house was ACed! It makes for good stories to tell the kiddos: you can do hard things! Pioneers and millions of years of people's had babies without AC so I can to ;). Hurray to makin babies and memories!

Dada, you're awesome!

These two make me SO happy!!!! I love watching little moments of my mister James and baby Jane together, they are the sweetest to observe. There is such a cute and tender love between the two of them. Jane oftentimes will wake up and say "dada", every closed door she'll go up and say "dada"(because he often works behind one), no one can make her laugh like her dada, or get her more riled up I might add ;) like her dada. I think a good father is one of the most important things in the wolrd. A child needs to feel approval and love from a father figure as they grow. 

By definition Father means:

1. A man in relation to his natural child or children. Synonym: dad

There is a lot of meaning in the word father and a lot of importance to its role. I'm so thankful that Mister James teaches, humor, hard work, fun learning, cooking, doctrinal principles and important facts to Jane. He is a wonderful father and our children are lucky he's theirs. As we approach Fathers Day I hope I can make sure my Mister knows how much we love and appreciate him. Because we are so blessed to have him at the head of our home.

Showered with Love

Last night my sweet mom, sisters and sister in law threw me a baby boy shower. And it was sooooooo cute. Themed with Whales and the ocean we celebrated little William coming into the world. I am waiting to get some photos from my sister....so stay tuned for those to see how adorable it was! The afternoon began with little Jane holding her little cousin Penelope and giving her hugs and ended with a very tired slap happy 1 year old running around! It was quite sweet and funny!

It was really special to be with women I love and to celebrate motherhood together. There is something so important about a community of support and love, especially for mommies. I have been blessed to meet some cream of the crop ladies here in Idaho that I feel so loved by. I have a little secret project that I am going to begin working on to help this supportive, team building community amongst women! I'm pretty excited for it. Crossing my fingers I have the energy and talent to pull it off!

A favorite thing of mine is cards. I love them! I love the way a good card feels, smells, looks and the charm they emit. My sisters and mom got some letter pressed delights that made my heart so happy! They are lovely to my soul :). They are the kind you want to frame and hang on your wall. What a blessed and lovely evening it was.

Dill the Fish & Jane Kisses

Today I had the hairbrain idea to go and buy a fish. Jane loves them and I think they are pretty fun to. They can be a "boring" pet to some but I love watching them gracefully swim about. We picked out a beautiful fan tailed beta (cause they are the lowest maintenance). He's a purpley, silver and blue. We have named him Dill for his new place of residence is a big, tall glass pickle jar! I love it. He's got lots and lots of room to swim about.

I'm glad Jane and I took this little outing together because the rest of the day I was struggling a bit. Those days don't happen often but it was like I hit a wall and started to stress and get anxious about all the to dos and things coming up in life. Do you ever have those days? Where a cloud of darkness seems to creep in and rain down all the "unsuccess" of your life? Those silly clouds!! Good think sunshine can always overpower them. I still got much done and strived to surpress those feelings and count my blessings. The greatest moment was when jane and I were laying on my bed...well I was laying she was playing ;). I had a few tears and she came right over to my face and gave me kisses. It was a sweet and tender moment. I have so much to be thankful for in my life and that little gal is a BIG one. Families are so wonderful and so important! "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings!" There really is so much to be thankful for!!!

We also tried doing a hairdo with Jane's thin and delicate hair. Thanks Aunt Lara for the fun butterfly clip!! Her hair is so smooth though all clips slide out pretty quick. I can't wait till we can do more with her golden locks!

June 1st!!

4 years ago today I returned from the greatest mission on earth: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania!!! I can't believe 4 years has come and gone, but then I look at all my life has brought and I feel so blessed. To be married to my best friend, live in a little home, have a beautiful daughter and a son on the way, be in a Releif Society presidency, worked as a full time Graphic Designer, built an app with my husband and so much more.

Life is full and it passes quickly. Every day is important and special. When I got off the plane in WA I wore my Amish cap and was surprised when all my family was in a hat!!! It was so special and awesome. I love these people so much! When you get off a mission there is almost a surreal feeling. You haven't seen these dear people for 1&1/2-2 years and then all of a sudden you're back. Back into the world, into the hustle bustle, your time is "yours" again, you feel a little upside down for a little bit. Missions are incredible and I will never regret or forget serving the Lord in PA.

I learned so much about the things that matter most in life on my mission. I learned how to really care about the scriptures and importance of prayer. I learned things that I treasured and wanted in my family some day. I learned a great time managing discipline (that I need to be better at again). You learn so much on a mission. I also learned that I was being pursued by an amazing man; James Spencer. My mister knew he was in love with me but it took me a mission and a few months after to realize how much I loved him back. I cherish the sweet letters he sent me on my mission. All my companions began calling him "Stationary Boy" because his paper and letters were so sweet and special. All the many families and individuals I met on my mission are sooooo dear to me as well. I think of all of them so often and pray for them and their happiness. These people are ingrained in my heart and soul. I care so deeply for their success in life. True success really is living a life pleasing to God. Because truly when you do so you are at your happiest state yourself. His teachings and principles bring happiness! His plan for us IS a plan of happiness. Another group I cannot fail to mention is companions! I was blessed with amazing companions that I treasure as sisters. Each one was unique, beautiful, talented, faithful and fun! I have so many memories with these sweet women that I forever cherish and hold so dearly. They each are the most AMAZING women! I felt so blessed to serve by their sides.

So, I will say it again, Yinz all should serve a mission. You won't regret it, you won't forget it and you won't ever be able to replace the thing you learn and people you meet. I love PA, I live the people there, I love the Lord, I love missions and I love happiness!